Weddings Abroad

With the average cost of a UK wedding rumoured to be a staggering £20,000, getting married abroad is a viable option for some couples. Often room hire and catering is much cheaper and attending guests tends to be less.

The trend is becoming so popular that luxury tour operators such as Somak Holidays and Kuoni have put together specialist wedding abroads to long haul destinations such  Mombasa, Zanzibar, Kenya Safari, Seychelles and Sri Lanka.

Mainstream holiday companies such as Thomson have also put together wedding packages to destinations including Caribbean, Mexico, Cyprus or Sicily.

Some crave a little adventure and couples have been known to get hitched underwater in the Bahamas (www.islandpreacha.com) (effective for culling the guest list but you would have to find a willing priest or rabbi) or even 164 ft in the air with relatives and friends suspended with them (www.marriageinthesky.com) throughout the ceremony, dinner and dancing. Imagine doing this over the Grand Canyon?

But for those of us who are a little more grounded how about these 7 inspirational destinations?

1) My Greek Wedding,  Santorini, Greece

Santorini is a spectacular volcanic island where ribbons of white houses are built into a giant black rock and when in bloom is speckled with red, pink and fuschia floral flourishes. All through its 4000 year history poets have sung its praises and artists of tried to capture its beauty on canvas. Imagine what your wedding pictures will look like. For pure island romance, Santorini has it all.

Arrive at the ceremony to the accompaniment of a host of traditional violin players or have a blessing on the black volcanic beach if you wish. An al fresco reception can be held in the town of Sira on a restaurant or hotel terrace for 30 or 40 guests making merry as the orange light of the sun set dwindles into the night. If this pulls at your marital heart string contact specialists Ionian Weddings (www.ionianweddings.co.uk) who will make it happen and even throw in a guided tour of the island for you and your guests.

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2) Safari So Good – South Africa

Make your vows in the heart of a game reserve and treat your guests to a safari extravaganza. The Shamwari Game Reserve, situated in the malaria-free Eastern Cape province is home to the ‘big five’ and is one of the largest private conservation initiatives in Southern Africa.

There’s seven luxury lodges, a spa and your wedding day would include sole use of the game drive with your photographer and a private dinner on your return. Somak Holidays can arrange the entire experience from rabbi to flowers.

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3) Sex and The City – New York

New York’s trendy rooftop garden at 230 Fifth is the city’s hottest wedding location at the moment. It offers a superb floral alfresco setting for summer weddings and offers stunning views over the Manhattan skyline and the iconic Empire State Building.

If the weather is inclement the party is held in the Penthouse Lounge. Windows are floor to ceiling so you still get those magnificent views. Up to 400 can be hosted for a sit-down dinner or up to 1000 for a buffet.

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4) At one with Nature - Israel

If your marital dreams are in the holy land consider Ronit Farm. It’s just 20 minutes from Tel Aviv and an alfresco wedding here comes with views over lawns, lakes, palm olive and citrus trees – no buildings, no roads just lots of greenery, a gorgeous skyline and black swans looking on.

In Jerusalem the four star Ramat Rachel Hotel, located 820 meters above sea level has outstanding views of Bethlehem, Jerusalem and the Judean Hills. It was originally a youth hostel built by members of Kibbutz Ramat Rachel but has morphed into an exclusive four star country club and health spa with extensive banqueting facilities.

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5) A White Wedding? - Quebec

Your winter wedding day won’t come much whiter than at the, Hôtel de Glace, where everything is made of ice. Your celebrations will have a superb backdrop of sublime ice sculptures and inspired ice architecture. After the ceremony celebrate with sparkling cocktails sipped in ice flutes in the Ice Bar before dinner in heated tents. The N'Ice Club provides music for dancing, and before bed in your ice room (with fireplace) warm up with a dip in the Ice Hotel Sauna. Bear in mind that the hotel is completely rebuilt every year and opens 7th of January to the 27th of March 2011, weddings are celebrated between the 20th of January to the 20th of March and has just 36 rooms.

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6) My word is my Bond – Jamaica

The Goldeneye estate stretches over 18 tropical acres and includes the famous Fleming house, where Ian Fleming penned 13 of his Bond novels. Couples can have their ceremony on a private beach, followed by a candlelit reception at one of the villas or in the Fleming house itself, which is large enough for a wedding reception and to accommodate family members. Weddings can be tailor-made to suit and food can be as informal as a beach barbecues with live bands or simple quiet dinners.

Find cheap flights to Montego Bay

7) Up against the Wall – China

For a touch of the Orient get married alongside the Great Wall of China on the rooftop of the Commune. The Commune is a collection of contemporary villas designed by 12 Asian architects and run by the Kempinski hotel group and nestles by the Shiguan section of the Great Wall, 50km from Beijing.

As you exchange vows you will have views of the Wall tapering away from you and the mountains beyond and if you want flying doves and a cocktail reception on the wall, the Commune can arrange this. Receptions are held in the Club House, which can seat up to 500 but smaller parties are served by a butler in a villa or chalet.

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25 April 2010